Firefighters blast decision to earmark more funds to yeshiva students but not to fire brigades

Ilana Curiel|Published: 12.23.10 , 00:31

Carmel blaze forgotten? Firefighters are upset after the Knesset's Finance Committee approved a state budget that includes more funds to yeshiva students but no extra money for Israel's firefighting brigades.

"We haven't learned a thing," a senior firefighter said in response to the news, referring to the recent Carmel fire that prompted official promises to change the grim state of Israel's firefighting services. "It's a disgrace."

The Finance Committee approved Wednesday an extra NIS 12.5 million (roughly $3.6 million) to fund income supplements for yeshiva students. The yeshiva student budget stood at NIS 127 million (approximately $37 million) before the latest addition.

Carmel blaze (Photo: AFP)

Officials did not designate any extra funds to the fire brigades at this time, but the Treasury said that a detailed plan for boosting the firefighting budget would be submitted to the government within two months.

Firefighter Boaz Rakia, who served as the fire brigades' operations officer during the Carmel blaze, will arrive at the Knesset Thursday with other firemen in an effort to translate promises for more funds into reality.

"We saw that the budget approved for the next two years does not include an addition for the firefighters, and that's truly disappointing," he said. "We haven't learned a thing, and that's a disgrace…a disaster happened, yet nothing has changed."

Rakia said the latest developments are a source of shame for the Israeli government, which he accused of leaving firefighting services as a lowly priority.

"We're concerned by the attempt to make headlines on our backs and are worried that a rash plan to change the firefighting services would be passed hastily without consulting with us," he said. "Nothing has been done even for appearances' sake."

'It's a terrible decision'

Another firefighter, who serves in Beersheba, also expressed his disappointment.

"The haredim matter more," he said. "It's true that they too are supposed to get something, but some things are more important. I think the disaster had already been forgotten…otherwise they wouldn't approve money for yeshiva students only. It's a terrible decision."

Another fireman, who has been serving for some 30 years, said he was stunned by the budget decision.

"Soon the ashes will dissipate and the names of the casualties would be forgotten, while we remain in the same situation," he said. "I think nothing will change even by the time I retire."

Firefighters waiting for new equipment (Photo: Ofer Amram)

Wednesday evening, Kadima issued a statement condemning the decision to provide more money for haredi income supplements.

"Netanyahu chose yeshiva students and abandoned the firefighters," the statement said. "This is an outrageous decision that constitutes a shameful and clear message to the Israeli public that it is being led by a cynical, indifferent man whose priorities harm Israel."